TWO SIDES:The premier said Beijing sometimes ‘overinterprets’ the meaning of the ‘1992 consensus,’ which he said does not refer to nor set a timeline for ‘unification’

Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) yesterday took issue with a former high-ranking Chinese official who said that recognition of the so-called “1992 consensus” would eventually lead to unification between Taiwan and China.

In an interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix television last month, former deputy chairman of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Tang Shubei (唐樹備) said it would be inconsistent with the principle of the “1992 consensus” if the two sides were to remain separated indefinitely.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) believed the so-called “1992 consensus” was reached during a meeting in Hong Kong in 1992 between Taiwanese and Chinese representatives, under which both sides claim to have acknowledged that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “one China” means.

The Democratic Progressive Party insists the “1992 consensus” does not exist.

Tang said in the interview that the core spirit of the “1992 consensus” was “one China,” and that its goal is that both sides join efforts to pursue unification.

At the legislature’s question-and-answer session yesterday, the premier said he disagreed with Tang because the “1992 consensus” referred to an understanding that each side of the Strait has its own interpretation of what “one China” means.

The understanding, which was reached by both sides, does not contain anything related to unification and does not set a timeline for unification, Jiang said in answer to Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Huang Wen-ling’s (黃文玲) question on his views about Tang’s statement.

Jiang added that the overarching principle guiding the KMT government’s cross-strait policies is to maintain the cross-strait “status quo.”

In related news, China’s new Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) director, Zhang Zhijun (張志軍), yesterday said it was not necessary to set conditions for him to visit Taiwan.

Zhang was responding to recent remarks by Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), who said that Zhang was welcome to visit Taiwan “at an appropriate time, in a suitable capacity and when all related conditions are right.”

Wang added that he would not meet Zhang unless Zhang agrees to address him by his official title, instead of simply “Mr Wang.”

Zhang, who was attending a seminar in China’s Fujian Province, said that any related problems, such as in what capacity and format the visits should be made, can be resolved with sincerity.

However, throughout his talk, he did not refer to Wang by his title, but only referred to him as “those responsible for such affairs in Taiwan.”

Zhang added that his predecessor, Wang Yi (王毅), had never had the chance to visit Taiwan in the five years he was office.

“I hope not to harbor such regrets in my term,” Zhang said.

Zhang added that the TAO would continue to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of cross-strait relations and seek to promote understanding on both sides.

The office would also “seek to purge the rancor left by the pro-Taiwan independence consciousness and increase recognition of [Chinese] ethnicity (民族認同感),” he said.

Zhang said that by moving forward step by step and not setting restrictions, both sides can slowly come to a consensus on what to do, adding that starting dialogue through civil organizations is a viable method.